Grain-binder



B Sheets-Sheet I.

sgnw ovoKB. Grain Binder.

Pa tented Dec. 14, I880.

I Am

NJEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASMINGTGN, D c.

3 S. D. LOOKE. Q Grain Binder. NQ.'235,443. Patented Dec. 14,1880.

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3'Sheets-Sheet 3.

N.FETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D. O.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVANUS I). LOOKE, OF. HOOSIGK FALLS, NEW YORK.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,443, dated December 14, 1880, i Application filed December 4,1879.

To all whom it 'IllCtfl/OOHGGTR binding harvesters in which the-band is passed.

around the bundle and its ends securedby the automatic action ofthemachine audit con sists in improvements in the twisting mechan ism, whereby the ends of the band are clamped and held against a snubbing-surface while being twisted, and then loosened and released when the twist has been formed; in improve ments in the spool-stand, providing for a brake upon the periphery of the spool; in an improved separator to hold back the stream of grain as the bound sheaf'is dischargech'and in the combinationsand details of construction hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective 1 view of a grain-binder embodyingmyimprove= merits, the elevatorandother proximateparts .of the harvester being also shown.- .Figv2 is an elevation of the binder from the. stubble.

side of the machine; Fig. 3, an elevation, in-

cluding the crank and separator arm, of the gear and cam wheel by which the various partslof the binding mechanism are primarily driven and timed; Fig. 4, a section through the'machine in the line of the slot in the graintable, with the'separator-arm slightly out of position to fully expose the twisting, holding, and cutting mechanism; Fig. 5, a sectionof the twisting, holding, and cutting mechanism Fig. 6,a top-plan view of the same; Fig. 7, a

plan of the spool-standard with the slack takeup depressed and brake-strap removed, the spool and its pintle being also shown detached; Fig. 8,a modification of the separator-arm.

- I have chosen to illustrate the features of myinvention in connection with a movable binding-table and elevated grain-delivery apparatus, Without, however, intending to limit their application to these constructions.

A is the elevator-frame, and B the binding. table. These are of an ordinary and wellknown form.

O is the casting or post-frame which supports and gives bearing to the various shafts and active parts of the binder. By means of its feet 0 0 it rests, and slides back and forth to adjust the binding mechanism to the length of i the grain, upon ways 0 c, alfixed to the beam D. It is braced above by rods d cl, which meet in the block 01, sliding on the way 0 upon the-tie-piece E, which bridges the elevating mechanism and connects the front and rear frames.

The binding-table is attached to and supported by the post-frame G and slides back andforth with it. Beneath the table is a gearwheel, F, also sliding back and forth with the post-frame and table, and meshing, by means of spur-teeth on its periphery, with some driven part of the harvester, whereby power may be communicated to the binder. In hearings in that part of the post-frame subtending the table is a horizontal shaft, f, keyed to this gearwheel, and driving, by means of bevel-gears ca, .auupright shaft, g, journaled in the vertical post.

This shaft, in its turn, drives, by means of the mutilated bevel-gears b b, the crank-shaft h in. the overhanging part of the post-frame.

The binder-arm H is mounted, about midway of its length, upon the crank-pin h and operated by the revolution of the shaft, and is controlled at its heel end, to govern its orbit, by the pivoted depending link It. Itsmotion, owing to the delay-surfaces on the mutilated gears 12 b, is intermittentthat is, it is stopped for an interval as it reaches the binding-head until the ends of the; band have been united, and then resumes its orbital move- The parts as thus far described have been fully shown, and explained in applications for Letters Patent heretofore filed by me, and I make no claim to them herein.

Projecting from the shaft f, or from a hub on the wheel F, is a crank, f, to which is pivoted the separator-arm G. This passes through and is guided by an opening or aperture, g, in the binding-table, or a plate attached thereto, to one side of the slot therein, and substantially opposite the point at which the bindingarm has its interval of rest. The gear-wheel is designed to make one revolution to each complete movement of the binder-arm, and the crank is so arranged that the separatorarm begins to rise through the table just as the binder-arm reaches the binding-head, and continues its upward motion essentially parallel to and in the line of division marked by said binder-arm while the latter is at rest, thus cleanly dividing the bound sheaf from the incoming stream. By the time the separatorarm has reached its upward limit the binderarm has again started and is ejecting the bound sheaf, after which it rises, in its return toward the elevator, to separate a fresh gavel. As the crank f passes its dead-center the separatorarm is swung over toward the grain-board, pushing the accumulating bundle back and partly compacting it, and as the binder-arm sweeps downward into and against the grain the arm is slowly withdrawn until,just before the ends of the band meet each other, it reaches the extreme lower limit ofits motion, becoming flush, or nearly so, with the table, and the grain is permitted to pass above it. The crank is at this time passing its second dead-center and the nose of the binder-arm in close proximity to the binding-liead, which it immediately reaches when the separator-arm again begins to move up.

A ledge may be formed at the side of the slotin the binding-tabletolift the grain slightly therefrom and prevent its catching upon the point of the separator-arm in case the latter is of such length as not to be withdrawn flush with the table. Such a ledge is afforded by the plate which I have shown apertured for the passage and guidance ofsaid arm; but this plate and its primal object having been de scribed in one of the previous applications above mentioned, it will not be further alluded to herein.

The separator-arm, it will be observed, besides dividing the loose grain from the bound bundle, assists in closing it up to form the slicceeding gavehand relievesthe band from much of the strain to which it is subjected when it itself is made to form the separating medium and to push back the stream in the return of the binder-arm to gather a fresh gavel. It is not necessary to its efficient operation that it should be used in connection with a binderarm having an interval of rest, since a continuously-moving binding-arm may be made so curved that the point of the separator-arm, as it rises, may for a sufficient length of time be practically opposite points in the corresponding levels ofthe binder-arm, or, conversely, the separator-arm may be curved to produce the same result, and even without such nice adjustments it can be made to do good work.

In Fig. Sis represented a modification of the arm adapted to be applied to and driven by the same crank and gear-wheel, but to reciprocate in right lines vertically.

F is the crank-wheel,f the crank, and G the arm. In this construction the arm is formed with a slotted cross-yoke, m, in which thewristpin of the crank works, and has, in addition to the guide furnished by the aperture through the binding-table, another guide, 9, supported in any suitable manner underneath the binding mechanism, in which plays an extension be neath the yoke. The arrangementhereiu first described I however consider the preferable one.

The gear-wheel F has upon its face two segment-racks, ij, laid upon concentric arcs, one within the other, the racki being outermost and shortest.

Above the rack i and corresponding there with is a slot, i, through the wheel, and below. or within the arc of rack j, is a groove, j, terminating at each end just beyond the final tooth of its rack.

Commencing near the axis of the wheel, between it and the groove last named, and at a point a short distance within the end of the longer segment, is a cam-ledge, k, which first rises spirally outward toward the perimeter of the wheel, then becomes concentric with the axis, and finally terminates abruptlyjust asit has met and passed within the other eml of the segment. it may, however, terminate short of the segment without altering its functions, except as hereinafter described.

The twisting, holding, and cutting devices are mounted in a bracket or offset, K, from the post-frame, which bridges the gear-wheel and depends parallel with its face, so as to bring the various parts in position relative thereto, as described in one of the before-mentioned applications filed by me.

A cylindrical shaft, K, having its hearings in this bracket, has keyed to its lower end a pinion, I, which meshes with the shorter rack i of the gear-wheel, and a shoe, l, which takes into the slot 1" and turns freely as the pinion is driven, but rides upon the face of the wheel and locks the shaft in position when the pin' ion passes out of mesh.

At the upper end the shaft carries a cutter and bolder, m, which revolves and holds the end of the wire upon the planed top of the bracket and cuts against a superposed stationary knife, 11, bolted fast upon a ledge or shoulder, n, rising from the bracket to a height about flush with the top of the revolving knife.

Within the cylimlrical shaft revolves another shaft, 0, carrying at its upper end the twister P, which rests above and in: contact with the upper face of the stationary cutting-plate.

At the extreme lower end of the twistershat't is a rounded head, 10, which once in each revolution of the gear-wheel F strikes against and rides up the cam k and raises the twister away from the surface of the cutter-plate. Secured to this shaft, just beneath the pinion on the cutter-shaft, by means of a spline and groove, so that it may slide thereon as the cam causes the shaft to rise, is a pinion, q, and attached to this is a shoe, q.

The pinion is actuated by the rack j on the gear-wheel, and as it revolves the shoe turns freelyin the groove or cut-away portion j,-

but when it'is out of mesh the shoe rides upon been formed.

the surface of the gear-wheel and holds the twister from turning; A spring, p, coiled upon the twister-shaft between the head 2) and the shoe q, holds the twister forcibly against the stationary cutter-plate whenever it is not acted upon by the cam and returns it to position at the instant such :action ceases.

' The rack which operates the twister-shaft projects at each end beyond that which operates the cutter-shaft, but at the rear end the farthest. "It is intended that one, or nearly i one,ful1 revolution shall be given to the twistershaft before the cutter is rotated, and that the twister shall continue to revolve after the operation of the latter has been accomplished a sufficientnumber of times to firmly twist the ends of the wire together.

The action of the cutter so soon succeeds the initial revolution of the twister that withoutextraneous provisionthe ends of the band would be liable to escape before the twist had They are therefore snubbed and clamped between 1 the twister and the underlying plate or knife while being cut and twisted, and finally unclamped, and released as the fastening is completed that the sheaf may drop without hinderance. When the twister commences its revolution the lower end of its shaft is still riding upon the camledge, and hence it is raised above the surface of the stationary knife, and gathers and snubs over this the first strand of wire for the twist without unnecessary resistance. Just as it has gathered and fairly snubbed the second strand the cam-ledgeruns out from beneath its shaft, and the arms of the twister are brought down upon the snubs by the force of the spring, clamping and holding them firmly upon the subjacent surface. This action is immediately succeeded by the action of the rotary cutter and holder, which severs the wire close beneath the snubbed portion and grasps the new end. In thefurther revolution of the twister to complete the fastening the two ends of the wire in their snubbed and clamped condition are whirled around-upon the surface of the cutting and snubbing plate until, just before the pinion on the twister-shaft runs outof mesh, the incline upon the cam comes beneath the head on the end of the shaft and forces it up against the spring, when the twister is lifted away from the snubbing-plate and the band released.

Should the cam-ledge be so short that the twister at the time of gathering and snubbing the strands for the twist is clamped against the snubbing-plate it is evident that the holding and releasing of the wire could be accomplished, but that additional labor would be brought upon the twister and some dangerincurred of breaking the wire. While such a i v 1 modification is therefore within theprinciple of my invention, I do not consider it so de-' sirable as the construction herein indicated.

It is evident, also, that the upper surface of the stationary knife is used as the snubbing and clamping plate for the sake of convenience and compactness of build; but another surface might be provided, and the snubbingplate, instead of the twister, might be given I the to-and-fro motion for clamping.

A plate or arm beneath and revolving with Ithe twister may be employed, instead of the twister itself, as the upper clamping-jaw. The ispring can be omitted and the twister con- ;trolled as to its distance from the snubbing- Qplate by an additional cam -ledge upon the gear-wheel. The band may be severed and the reel end held by other means than those described, and various other modifications may be introduced by a skillful workman.

The spool-stand R rests in a socket in the block 61, or in any suitable part of the framework. When an adjustable binding-table or binding-arm is used it should be so mounted as to partake of the adjustments. It is formed with a shank, 4, which fits into the socket and serves to sustain at the proper elevation a rigid U-sha-ped frame, 1", in or upon which the movable parts are journaled. A lug or oifset, s, from this frame gives bearing to the slack take-up t, which is normally held by the coiled spring 8 against the stop t, but yields with the stress of the band to an extent determined by the spring and the tension on the spool. The take-up arm is bent to overhang the frame of the stand, so that the eye or pulley at its point may be above or opposite the center ofthe spool a. The latter turns upon the pi ntle a, which is laid, so as to be readily removed, in recesses or bearings in the frame near the end of the two arms. This pintle is longitudinally grooved, as shown, that theincrement of friction due to it may be as small as possible.

A rock-shaft, I, pivoted in the frame parallel with the spool has at one end a curved projecting arm, 10, which extends across and beyond the spool-pintle, and is then bent at right angles to alford a terminal finger, to, parallel with its shaft and the spool, and of about the length of the latter.

Upon the rock-shaft is a coiled spring, which causes the arm to bear down upon or toward the pintle, and in order that the torsion of this spring may-be increased or decreased at pleasure the end most remote from the arm is attached to a sleeve, y, which slides and turns freely upon the shaft. This sleeve has a serrated or clutch face, and by the expansive force of the spring is kept normally in engagement with an opposing clutch-half, y, upon the frame. It is milled or toothed upon the pespring, as aforesaid, and will itself hold the coil in the condition to which it has been brought.

A flexible strap, ot' sufiicient breadth to cover the body of the spool, is attached at one end to the finger 10 in any suitable way, preferably by means of a hem or sleeve, and at the opposite end is secured to the rear bar of the frame by books or buttons z, formed on said bar. It can therefore be readily removed and replaced.

\Vhen the spool is in position the arm 10 draws the strap down upon the material with a pressure determined by the adjustment of the spring, causing it to act as a. brake upon the surface to control the tension and to prevent the coils from flying off.

The bent arm, when the brake-strap is not used, may rest upon the pintle ot' the spool, and will then of itself serve to retain it in position in its bearings, should it be desirable at any time to work without the brake-strap.

I, claim as my invention 1. In combination with the binder-arm, a separator-arm actuated to pass up alongside the binder-arm, between the gavel and the incoming stream of grain, and then move back against said stream.

2. In a grain-binding machine, the combination of a table or receiver whercon the grain is bound, a binder-arm arranged to descend through the grain upon the table, and an ascending divider arranged to pass through the grain at the same pointas the binder-arm and then swing back toward and against the incoming grain away from the path of the binder-arm,thereby forcing the loose grain on the table away from that within the grasp of said binding-arm.

3. In combination with the bimler-arm, the reciprocating and swinging separator-arm actuated to pass up from beneath the table alongside the binder-arm and then swing over and back against the inflowing stream ofgrain.

4. In combination with the binder-arm and grain-table, a separator-arm working up and down through and guided by an aperture in said table, and a rotary crank beneath the table directly actuating said separator-arm.

5. In combination with the band-carrying arm, a separator-arm actuated directly by a crank on a wheel beneath the binding-table in the train of gear which drives said band-carrying arm.

6. In combination with the band-carrying arm, a separator-arm working up and down through and guided by an aperture in the grain-table, and a rotary crank beneath the table. to which the lower end of said arm is pivoted and by which it is driven.

7. III combination with the band-carrying arm and with the cutting and twisting mechanism, and the single gear-wheel by which these devices are primarily driven and timed, a separator-arm moving up and down through the binding-table, and a crank upon said gearwheel directly actuating the separator-arm.

8. In combination with the cutter by which the band portion of the wire is severed from the reel portion, snubbing and clamping mechanism to clamp and hold the ends of the band portion as they are whirled in the twisting operation actuated independently of the rotation of the twister to unclamp and release said ends as the twisting operation terminates.

9. In combination with the wire-twister, an opposing clamping-plate against which the ends of the wire are snubbed and clamped by the former during the twisting operation, and mechanism for causing relative movement of the twister away from the plate as the twist is completed to release the wire.

10. In combination with the wire-twister, an underlying plate, against which the ends of the wire are snubbed and clamped during the twisting operation, a spring to hold the twister down to clamp the wire, and a cam acting against the end of the twister-shaft as the twist is completed to raise the twister away from the plate to release the wire.

11. In combination with the twister, a cutter to sever the wire, an interlying plate, against one surface of which the wire is severed by the cutter, and against the other surface of which the ends of the band are snubbed and clamped by the twister as it revolves in the twisting operation, ainl mechanism for causing relative movement of the twister away from said plate as the twist is completed to release the wire.

12. The combination of the rotary twister, the rotary cutter, turning upon an axis concentric with the twister. the plate between the two, against one surface of which the cutter severs the wire, and against the other surface of which the twister snubs and is caused to clamp the band ends, and mechanism whereby the twister is lifted away from said plate at the conclusion of the twisting operation to unclamp and release these ends.

13. In combination with the wire -cutter, the twister, and the snubbing and clamping plate beneath the twister, aspring to hold the twister down upon the plate, and a cam operating upon the twister-shaft, so shaped and the parts so timed and operated that thetwister first gathers and snubs the wire while raised away from the plate, then falls to clamp it, and the cutter moves to sever it, after which the twist is completed and tho twister finally raised away from the plate to release the wire.

14. In combination with the concentric shafts and their pinions and delay-shoes, and the spring upon the inner of said shafts, the wheel, with its racks and slots, to operate said pinions to turn the shafts, and its cam to cause intermittent endwise movement of the inner shaft.

15. In combination with the twister and its shaft, and the pinion, delay-shoe, and spring upon said shaft, the cutter mounted upon a concentric shaft having also a pinion and delay-shoe, the cutting, snubbing, and clamping IIO plate between the twister and cutter, and the wheel, with itsracks', to drive the pinions, its slots to permit the revolution of the delay-shoes as the'pinions are driven, and itscam to move thetwistcr-shaft endwise to raise the twister from the snubbing and clamping plate as the twist is completed:

16. The gear and cam Wheel formed with radial peripheral teeth whereby 7 it may be driven, with the concentric racks upon its face, with slots corresponding to each of said racks, and with the projecting cam-ledge, substantially as described.

17. The combination of the spool, the springarm bridging the spool or its pintle, and the brake-strap secured to the frame of the standard upon one side of the spool, and to a finger removable.

SYLVANUS D. LOGKE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. BROWN, WM. M. AROHIBALD. 

